Senate OKs bill that allows police to deny requests for video

Public access to police bodycam videos expected to be hot topic

Panelists at an open government forum predicted that courts and the legislature likely will be called on to determine whether recordings from police body cameras are public records. The forum was held by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association to mark Sunshine Week, an initiative to draw people’s attention to open government issues.

Panelists at an open government forum predicted that courts and the legislature likely will be called on to determine whether recordings from police body cameras are public records. The forum was held by the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association to mark Sunshine Week, an initiative to draw people’s attention to open government issues.

HARRISBURG — Legislation approved by the Pennsylvania state Senate would let police departments refuse public requests for copies of audio or video recordings by officers, unless a court orders its release.

The bill was approved 45-5 on Wednesday without debate. It goes to the House of Representatives with just a few scheduled voting days left in the legislative session. The bill's wording was made public a day ago and covers recordings from body cameras and dashboard cameras.

It is supported by law enforcement organizations, but opposed by the American Civil Liberties Union.

The sponsor, Sen. Stewart Greenleaf of Montgomery County, says it'll encourage more police agencies to outfit officers with cameras. But the ACLU says it'll be nearly impossible to obtain video that's in the public interest, even if the requester is in the video.